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EE 178: Physics II

Electricity & Magnetism

Chapter 6: Current, Resistance and Ohm’s Law

A current (I) of electricity exists in a region when a net electric charge is transported from
one point to another in that region. Suppose the charge is moving through a wire. If a charge q
is transported through a given cross section of the wire in a time t, then the current through the
wire is:
𝑞
I=
𝐶
q (Coulomb), t (seconds)

SI unit of I is : Ampere=C/s

Flow of the electrons to the right  a current to the left

The resistance R: of a wire or other object is a measure of the potential difference (V) that
must be impressed across the object to cause a current of one ampere through it:

𝑉
𝑅=
𝐼

The unit of resistance is the Ohm, for which the symbol  (Greek omega) is used:
1 = 1 V/A

Ohm’s Law: originally contained two parts. Its first part was simply the defining equation for
resistance: 𝑉 = 𝑅 𝐼.

We often refer to this equation as being Ohm’s Law. However, Ohm’s Law also stated that R
is a constant independent of V and I. This latter part of the law is only approximately correct.

The relation 𝑉 = 𝑅 𝐼 can be applied to any resistor, where V is the potential difference
between the two ends of the resistor, I is the current through the resistor and R is the
resistance of the resistor under those conditions.

Resistivity: The resistance R of a wire of length L and cross sectional area A is:

𝐿
𝑅= 
𝐴

Where  is a constant called the resistivity. The resistivity is a characteristic of the material
from which the wire is made. For L in m, A in m2, and R in , the unit of  is .m
Resistors in series: R 𝑒𝑞 = 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 + 𝑅3 + ⋯

Resistors in parallel:

1 1 1 1
= + + +⋯
𝑅𝑒𝑞 𝑅1 𝑅2 𝑅3